Two NGOs launch Girls Inspirer Awards
The Insight Foundation Ghana (IFG), in collaboration with Obaapa Development Foundation, both non-governmental organisations (NGOs), has launched the Girls Inspirer Awards in Accra.
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To be held on the theme: “Celebrating inspirational women achievers, empowering young girls”, the award will honour three distinguished Ghanaian women achievers who are impacting the lives of other women and girls in the society.
The former Director of Finance and Administration of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Mrs Christiana Gockel, who launched the awards, explained that gender equality did not imply that women and men were the same but rather, they had equal value and should be accorded equal treatment.
She said in aspiring for gender equality, “we must empower girls and women together, with the support of men.”
Mrs Gockel urged women and children advocacy organisations to be mindful of the problems related to gender equality and develop innovative ideas for greater attention on women’s rights, as well as that of men.
Overview of the award
The Executive Director of the Obaapa Development Foundation, Obaapa Nanahemaa Awindor, said women were confronted with challenges such as discrimination, inequalities, violence and poverty, and added that empowering girls, respecting their human rights and addressing the discrimination they faced were essential to the progress of gender equality.
Giving an overview of the award, Nanahemaa Awindor said the ceremony was scheduled for March 8, 2016, with a number of activities and programmes taking place prior to the main event.
She also stated that 10 schools would participate in an essay competition to mark the International Day of the Girl Child, which would take place in October this year.
She explained that the competition would serve as a platform to promote the cause of women, especially young girls, and appealed to other organisations and agencies to support the initiative.
Other speakers
The National Information Officer of the United Nations Information Centre, Mrs Cynthia Prah, hailed IFG for the initiative because it would keep young girls on their toes and enable them to achieve their targets and goals.
She also advised students to focus on their studies and take advantage of opportunities available to them.
The Executive Director of African Queens and Women Cultural Leaders Network (AQWCLN), Mrs Elizabeth Asare, who chaired the function, said for a nation to develop, both men and women should work together.
For her part, Mrs Genevieve Eba Polley, the Executive Director of the Ghana Book Trust, promised to continue to invest in education so that girls could advance in their personal development.